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I AM ONE OF SPROUT'S:

About Me

I am a mom of 4 kids(13,12,10 and 8)who taught preschool for 2 years.
I hope you can use this blog as a resource to find fun activities to do with your children. Some ideas are new, while others have been around a while. This is a place where I can store all our activities without having to actually have to store them in my attic. I hope you find some fun and easy ideas.

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Monday, December 31, 2007

I am really struggling with the idea of should I make New Years resolutions or not. I think it is a good idea to have goals to try to strive to do better things, but on the other hand I hate to fail or give up. And now a days it seems a lot of people think resolutions stupid.I think I am going to try and see how it goes. A few years ago on New Years Eve I woke early and turned on the T.V. and for some reason there was Denise Austin exercising. That year I made a resolution to start working out. I did and have kept it up, of course I do better some weeks than others. That was a resolution I did and it worked.Next question is what kind of resolutions should I make? Work out more? Not yell at the kids so much ? Try to be a more understanding wife ? Clean the bathrooms more often? I do not know. I would like to make ones that I can stick to and make me a better person.I will think about it and get back to you.I would love to hear if you are going to make any resolutions and what are they. Also if you have any tips on how to pick resolutions and stick to them.

Sunday, December 30, 2007

You know it can not be a holiday at my house without a craft involving a toilet paper roll. It is sad, the other day a friend's Mom told me that every time she throws away a toilet paper roll she thinks of me. I am not sure if that is good or bad.

Cut the construction paper to fit around the roll and decorate. Glue on the construction paper. Next cut a piece of wax paper and rubber band it around one end.

Then with a pencil poke a few holes into the wax paper. Blow or hum into the open end to make sound.

I thought this was a kind of dumb craft but my kids really enjoyed playing with them.

This next craft can be a confetti holder (I am sorry, I can not even conceive the idea of confetti in my house), surprise (like candy or a little toy) holder or use it for a game.

Fill the roll with confetti, candy or a little toy. Take a toilet paper roll wrap it with tissue paper and tie the ends with a ribbon.

A game you can play is sort of like hot potato. Play music and when ever the music stops whoever is left holding it, leaves the game. At the end whoever does not have it wins the game and the roll with the surprise in it. I have played this at a Christmas party a few years ago and the kids love it.I hope everyone has a Fun and Safe New Years!!!!!!

Friday, December 28, 2007

PhotoHuntThis is my idea of "Messy". Play-Doh. It is evil stuff that gets all over the floor, and good heavens DO NOT get in it in the carpet. But yet, I still buy my kids a big pack of it every Christmas. Here is my MESSY FACED PRINCESS. She got into my bronzing powder. I hope it looks better on me.

This is a very easy recipe for kids to make for a snack or breakfast. Last night, my daughter had a friend spend the night and they wanted to "help" me cook dinner. I planned a kid friendly dinner (easy, not healthy) of banana pancakes, scrambled eggs and these cinnamon biscuit bites.Start with a small tube of biscuits, and approx 2 parts sugar and 1 part cinnamon.

Next with a cutting board and a butter knife, let the kids cut each biscuit into for pieces.

In a bowl or plastic baggie, coat the biscuit pieces.

Place pieces on baking sheet, and cook on 350 degrees for about 12 minutes.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

I wanted to write this so that I can look back and smile on it. On Christmas after Colton was finished opening his presents, he came up to me and said, " Here Mommy, this is your gift and he gave me a big hug." Then he went to my husband and did the same.I just wanted to write that down so I would not forget it, I will need this memory the next time he is driving me crazy.

I thought this would be a great project to make to thank Grandparents or Aunts and Uncles. Take a Thank you card or make a card and glue a picture on it (if you could get a picture with the kids holding a sign saying "Thank You" that would be cute) .Take some computer paper and cut it to the same size as the card. Making it into a pad. Staple it together. Glue the last page to the inside of the card. On the first page you could write a short Thank You.

Lastly, glue a magnet to the back of the card. Now you have a refrigerator note pad.This idea would cute for any Holiday or Birthday.

I thought this would be an easy Winter Craft to do over the Christmas break. Go to Scribbit for other great ideas to do over the Christmas break.I used a Styrofoam cup, with blacks buttons foe eyes and mouth. Ear muffs are pom-poms and green pipe stem cleaner. Construction paper for nose and checks, hot glued on. The scarf is made from felt.I am using Mr Snowman for decoration and a candy cane holder. I thought it would be cute for a kids Christmas or winter party.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

For these easy ornaments you only need a sheet of foam (or construction paper), pom-poms, glue and a hook( I used a pipe stem cleaners glued to the back).The top ornament I tried to cut out the branches on the foam but the second one I only cut a triangle. Then we glued on the pom-poms. For the trunk we glued 3 pom-pom together.We hot glued the pom-poms but craft glue works well too.

I know a lot of people put out food for Santa's reindeer, I thought this would make a cute holder.I started by making a cone out of construction paper and stapling on a pipe stem cleaner for the handle.

Then I added wiggly eyes, pom-pom for the nose, pipe stem cleaners for the antlers, and a bow. If you want to make a girl reindeer place the bow above the eyes.

Now just hang it on the door handle with food for the reindeer.

Some people use carrots. And others make a special food that might include oatmeal, grass, hay and glitter.

Yesterday was my anniversary to my husband of nine years. Our Wedding day was definitely not traditional, but I would not have changed it for the world. Other than the birth of my children, it really was the best day of my life.We were living in Georgia and went to Whitefish, MT to get married. We stayed at the Hidden Moose Lodge, which is a beautiful place. We got married by the justice of the peace, which I know a lot of people would not agree with, but at the time it was what was best for us.

On our trip we went skiing (first time for both of us) and we both stink at it. We saw the "The Waterboy", at the movies, now that movie is special to me. We also drove to British Columbia and Glacier Park (most of it was closed because of snow), both are breath taking places. I can not begin to tell you all the great memories I have of that trip.I am really writing this post to tell my husband how much I love him and how great the past nine years have been. We have had our hard moments together but I still love him with all my heart. He is a great man, that I respect a lot. Some of the trait I love about him most, are also the traits that get us in hard situations. He is honest, loyal, intelligent,very strong willed and has a very clear definition of what is right and wrong. And if he says he is going to do something, you can bet your life he will do it.He is a loyal husband, a loving dad and a wonderful friend. I want to thank him for giving me a life I could have never imagined. I am thankful I have someone who loves me through all my moods and bitchiness. He has given me the 4 most beautiful, precious children.I have a home I could have only dreamed about. I have seen and experienced things I am sure I would not have other wise, without you.I love you and I can not wait to see what the rest of our lives have in store for us.Thank you honey for everything.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

I really do not like to bake, so I try to find other Holiday treats I can make.The Santa is pretty popular, I have seen him a lot of places. It is just a Nutter Butter cookie dipped in white chocolate. I also used red sprinkles, white chocolate chip, chocolate chip (probably mini chocolate chips would work better) and a mini M&M for the nose.

The sled is a graham cracker covered with white frosting and colored sprinkles . I attached mini candy canes to the bottom with white frosting.

The Christmas tree is a Ice cream cone covered with white chocolate. I sprinkled it with green sprinkles and added M&M's.